Support for ejector cylinder



Aug' 20, 1958 w. P. WOHLFORD ET Al. 3,397,471

SUPPORT FOR EJECTOR CYLINDER Filed sept. 28, 1965 1. mmmw w NN Mm, lm,MX Nh MW. Q, m Nm wm, Nh,

United States Patent O 3,397,471 SUPPORT FOR EJECTOR CYLINDER William P.Wohlford, Springfield, Ill., and Lester W. Taylor, Cedar Rapids, Iowa,assignors to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis.

Filed Sept. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 490,877 17 Claims. (Cl. 37-129) ABSTRACTF THE DISCLOSURE A torsion bar suspension is provided for the open endof a scraper ejecter cylinder to carry the weight thereof, therebypreventing `damage and excessive wear of the rod gland `and packing dueto radial load thereon. The torsion bar suspension is verticallyadjustable to compensate for manufacturing deviations and to facilitateassembly and disassembly.

It is a common practice to use a single stage hydraulic jack to move theejector of an earthmover from its `retracted position to its full ejectposition. The rear end of the cylinder is customarily pivotallyconnected to the forward side of the rear bumper and the piston rod ispivotal- 1y connected to the rear of the ejector. Since the ejectortravels a considerable distance, an ejector jack must be provided whichhas a rather long stroke. Hence a single stage jack for such purpose,has a rather long cylinder and supplemental support therefor is desiredto reduce the vertical load on the packing gland and rod packing,particularly when the rod is extended during ejection. Heretofore therod end of the ejector cylinder has been supported on coil springarrangements; however, such devices did not provide adequate positionstability under rough operating conditions, did not provide precisepositioning of the cylinder and was not conveniently adjustable.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved ejectorcylinder support which reduces vertical loading on the packing andpacking gland yet `accommodates small amounts of vertical swingingmovement of the cylinder about its closed end pivot connection to theearthmover. Y

. It is a further object of this invention to provide mechanisnroutlined in the previous object wherein the cylinder support acts todampen vehicle induced movement of the cylinder. v

It is a further object of this invention to provide a torsion barsuspension for an ejector cylinder which is adjustable to compensate formanufacturing and materials tolerances and to facilitate assembly and`disassembly of the ja-ck into and from the earthmover.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent when thefollowing description is read in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side View of an earthmover incorporating this invention withparts broken away for illust-ration purposes; 4

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the ejector cylinder support shown inFIG. 1.

Referring to drawings, the illustrated earthmover includes a scraperbowl frame structure 8 with side walls 9, 11. A draft frame 12 ispivotally connected to walls 9, 11, on a transverse pivot axis 13 sothat the cutting edge ice 14 can be lowered to an excavating position byjacks 16, only one of which is shown. The earthmover also includes anapron 17 pivotally connected to the side walls 9, 11, on a transverseaxis 18. The side walls 9, 11 are interconnected by a bottom wall 21 anda rear end frame 22 On which a pair of wheels 23 (only one shown) aremounted. The rear end frame 22 also includes a transverse bumper 24 anda longitudinal track 26 for rollers 27 on the rear end of ejector 28.

The ejector 28 is powered by a single stage double acting hydraulic jack29 having its opposite ends pivotally connected to the ejector 28 andframe 22 by pins 31, 32, respectively. The pins 31, 32 pivotally connectthe rod 36 and cylinder 33 to the ejector and frame structures at xedpoints thereon, respectively, and in a manner permitting the rod andcylinder to swing vertically relative to the structures if necessaryduring operation of the ejector. Inasmuch as the bumper 24 is4reinforced to withstand pushing loads, the front side thereof providesa convenient and structurally strong mounting point for the closed endof the cylinder structure 33 of ejector jack 29. When the jack 29 isexpanded, the piston rod 36, piston 37 and ejector 28 move to thepositions indicated by dotdash lines 36', 37 and 28', respectively. Inthis full eject position the material is ejected from the scraper bowl.It should be understood that the apron 17 is in its raised positionduring ejection. In the full eject or expanded position of jack 29, theweight of its components places considerably greater vertical loading onthe rod packing gland 38 and packing 39. Further, the usual bouncing ofthe earthmover during unloading and immediately following unloadingcreates additional vertical loading on the rod packing gland and rodpacking which tends to shorten the life of these components.

We conceived of providing the illustrated adjustable torsion barsuspension for the cylinder 33 to reduce the vertical loading on gland38 and packing 39. The torsion bar suspension includes a transverselyextending torsion bar 41 having its laterally opposite ends rigidlysecured to the cylinder structure 33 through bracket portions 42, 43welded to bar 41 and fastened to the cylinder 33 by cap screws 46, 47.The torsion bar has a longitudinally extending torque arm 48 weldedthereto midway between its opposite ends which is `pivotally connectedat its free end to a vertically adjustable link in the form of` aturnbuckle 49. The turnbuckle 49 and torque arm 48 are `intersected by avertical plane through the axis 61 of the jack 29. Pins 51, 52 pivotallyconnect oppositely threaded yokes 53, 54 of turnbuckle 49 to the freeend of torque arm 48 and to frame structure 22. By turning the sleeve56, the weight of the cylinder 33 may be removed from the rod 36. Theproper adjustment of the turnbuckle 49 is achieved during installationof the jack 29 by connecting the closed end of the jack to frame 22 bypin 32, connecting the top of turnbuckle 49 to frame 22 by pins 52 andthen adjusting the turnbuckle until openings in rod 36 and ejector 28for pin 31 are in alignment to receive pin 31. Thus, the torsion barsupport for the open end of cylinder 33 not only serves to reduce thevertical loading on packing gland 38 and packing 39, but the turnbuckle49 facilitates installation of the jack 29 in the earthmover.

The usual tolerances permitted to provide economical manufacture aresuch that the longitudinal path followed by pivot pin 31, may not be astraight line continuation of axis 61 of jack 29 in its contractedcondition. This being the case the torsion bar suspension permits theopen end of the cylinder to move up or down to accommodate suchnonlinear movement. Also during travel movement of the earthmover withthe ejector jack 'extended, considerable dynamic forces act on the jackand particularly on the packing gland 38, packing 39 and piston 37. Thetorsion bar will resiliently twist to resist vehicle induced movement ofthe cylinder during earthmover operation and will restore the cylinderto its regular static position upon removal of the nonstatic forces.

From the foregoing it is apparent that an improved ejector cylindersupport has been provided which resiliently permits slight verticalmovement of the ejector cylinder and at the same time supports thecylinder sufficiently to reduce the vertical loading on the open end ofthe cylinder, the piston and the piston end of the rod. By making thetorsion bar suspension vertically adjustable, a precise alignment ofejector jack components and pivot pins 31, 32 is readily obtained. Forinstance the turnbuckle 49 is properly adjusted if it removes thevertical load from pin 31 in the retracted condition of jack 29. In thiscondition the weight of the cylinder, rod and piston is supported by thetorsion bar suspension and the rear pin 32.

The embodiments of the invention for which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination with an earthmover having a frame structure and anedjector structure mounted in said frame structure for longitudinalreciprocal movement therein, the combination comprising:

a hydraulic ejector jack having a cylinder pivotally connected adjacentits closed end to one of said frame and ejector structures for verticalswinging movement relative thereto and a piston rod extending from theopen end of said cylinder and connected to the other of said frame andejector structures at a fixed point thereon, and

a torsion bar suspension interconnecting said one structure and saidopen end of said cylinder thereby providing resilient vertical supportfor the latter.

2. The mechanism set forth in claim 1 wherein said suspension includesmeans for selectively effecting vertical adjustment of said open end ofsaid cylinder.

3. In an earthmover including a frame structure in which an ejectorstructure is -reciprocated by a hydraulic jack having a cylinderpivotally connected adjacent its closed end to one of said frame andejector structures for vertical swinging movement relative t-hereto anda piston rod extending from the open end of said cylinder and connectedto the other of said frame and ejector structures at a fixed pointthereon, the improvement comprising:

a torsion bar :suspension providing resilient vertical support for theopen end of said cylinder including a torsion bar extending in ahorizontal direction and means connecting portions of said bar spacedfrom one another in said horizontal direction to the open end of saidcylinder and to said one structure, respectively.

4. The mechanism set forth in claim 3 wherein said means includesextensible and contractible mechanism for adjusting the verticalposition of said open end of said cylinder.

5. In an earthmover including a frame structure in which an ejectorstructure is reciprocated by a longitudinally disposed hydraulic jackhaving a cylinder with its closed end pivotally connected to one of saidframe and ejector structures for vertical swinging movement relativethereto and having a piston wtih a piston rod extending from the openend of said cylinder and connected to the other of said frame andejector structures at a fixed point thereon, the improvement comprising:

a torsion bar suspension providing resilient vertical support for saidopen end of said cylinder including a torsion bar having 4 a rod portionextending inra vfirst horizontal direction, and a torque arm portionextending from said rod portion in a second horizontal directiontransverse to said first horizontal direction, I first means connectingone of said portions to said cyilnder and i second means connecting theother of said portions to said one structure, said first and secondmeans being spaced horizontally from one another in said firstdirection. i

6. The mechanism set forth in claim 5 wherein oneof said first andsecond means includes a vertically adjustable link.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein said one horizontaldirection is transverse to the axis of `said jack.

8. In an earthmover including a frame structure in which an ejectorstructure is reciprocated by a longitudinally disposed hydraulic jackhaving a longitudinally extending cylinder structure pivotally connectedat a fixed point to one of said frame and ejector structures forvertical swinging movement relative thereto and a piston with, a pistonrod extending from the open end of said cylinder structure and connectedto the other of said frame and ejector structures, the improvementcomprising:

a horizontally disposed torsion bar extending transversely of the axisof said jack and having a torque arm extending from a central portionthereof in the longitudinal direction of said earthmover meansconnecting opposite ends of said bar to any of said one and cylinderstructures, and

means connecting the free end of said torque arm to the remaining ofsaid one and cylinder structures.

9. The mechanism set forth in claim 8 wherein said means connecting thefree end of said torque arm to said other structure includes avertically adjustable link.

10. The mechanism set forth in claim 8 wherein said other structure issaid frame structure.

11. The mechanism set forth in claim 10 wherein said means connectingthe free end of said torque arm to said frame structure includes avertically adjustable link.

12. The mechanism set forth in claim 8 wherein said torque arm lies in aVertical plane through the axis of said jack.

13. The mechanism set forth in claim 12 wherein one of said connectingmeans includes adjusting means for selectively adjusting the verticalposition of said open end of said cylinder.

14. The structure set forth in claim 13 wherein said other structure issaid frame structure.

15. In an earthmover Vincluding a frame structure in which an ejectorstructure is reciprocated by a longitudinally disposed hydraulic jackhaving a cylinder structure pivotally connected at -a fixed point to oneof said frame and ejector structures for vertical swinging movementrelative thereto and'having a piston with a piston rod extending fromthe open end of said cylinder and pivotally connected at a fixed pointto the other of said frame and ejector structures, the improvementcomprismg:

a torsion bar suspension providing resilient vertical support for saidopen end of saidcylinder including a torsion bar extending in onehorizontal direction and presenting a torque arm with a free endportionextending horizontally and transversely of said one horizontaldirection land an vattaching portion spaced horizontally from saidtorque arm,

first means connecting one of said portions to the open end of saidcylinder,

second means connecting the other of said portions to said onestructure.

in a vertical direction.

5 6 16. The mechanism set forth in claim 15 wherein said ReferencesCited torsion bar suspension includes vertical adjusting means UNITEDSTATES PATENTS f- 1t`l"t" 'd df'dl'd or se ec iveyposl lonmg sal open eno sai cy 1n er 2,514,053 7/1950 Gurries et al.

17. The mechanism set forth in claim 16 wherein said 5 l. one horizontaldirection is transverse to the axis of said ABRAHAM G' STONE P'lmaryExaminer' jack. A. E. KOPECKI, Assistant Examiner.

